Ball Toss Up Apparatus for Batting Practice and Game Play

ABSTRACT

A ball toss up apparatus ( 10 ) has a generally flat body ( 12 ) within which is located a pivotal arm ( 26 ) and a pneumatic ram means ( 76, 78 ) for causing the arm to pivot. A ball is received in an opening ( 28 ) of the body above the arm, and the ball can be tossed vertically upwardly to a hitting zone of a batter by impact with the arm when pivoted by activation of the pneumatic ram means. The ball toss up apparatus also includes an air tank ( 32 ) for storage of pressurized air that is used in the activation of the pneumatic ram means. Air pressure within the air tank is continuously monitored by a pressure sensor ( 54 ) which cooperates with a pressure release solenoid ( 56 ) to reduce air pressure within the air tank when required.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to training equipment and, moreparticularly, to a ball-toss up apparatus which is operative for tossinga ball, such as a baseball, softball, cricket ball or the like, into theair so that it can be hit with a bat during batting practice or gameplay.

This invention also relates to a ball toss up apparatus for trainingindividuals in the proper technique of swinging a bat to hit a ball, andalso for improving the hand to eye coordination of a batter's swing forsuccessfully hitting a ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stationary ball stands are known that allow the batter to hit astationary ball placed on top of a flexible vertical tube or tee mountedon a supporting ground plate. Such stands are marketed under the nameT-BALL and are often used at the entry level of youth baseball leagues,to allow batting skills to develop before young players are ready forregulation pitching. During game play, the T-BALL stand is placed onhome plate by the umpire with the ball resting on the top of the stand,and following a hit, the umpire must remove the stand from the homeplate area so as to not interfere with base running. The stationary ballbecomes an easy hitting target, not involving the required hand to eyecoordination of a moving ball and hence T-BALL batters often loseinterest as their skill progresses.

A more traditional technique for improving the hand to eye coordinationand the bat speed of a softball or baseball batter is known as softtossing.

The technique is manual in that a pitcher stands to the side of thebatter, typically just out of range of the batter's swing, and softlytosses the ball into the batter's strike zone. It is highly desirable totoss the ball into the batters strike zone at unexpected times so thatthe batter is unable to anticipate the delivery. Only this way will thebatter's ability to strike the ball truly be a function of hand to eyecoordination, reflexes and bat speed. However, as will be readilyappreciated, it is difficult for the pitcher to avoid giving advancewarning of when the ball is to be delivered manually, that is, tossed byhand.

Some attempts have been made to provide machines that can propel a ballinto the hitting zone of a batter and which don't require any otherperson to operate. Such automated pitching mechanisms and ball tossingdevices have generally been large, relatively expensive, require aselective environment to function, or have been somewhat awkward tooperate, and hence they have been less than entirely satisfactory. Manyof these machines are designed to simulate baseball pitching and haveresulted in large, complex mechanisms standing high above ground thatare adapted for propelling a baseball in a substantially horizontaltrajectory and with sufficient force to simulate a player's pitch.Others of these machines are designed to toss a ball up to battingheight to afford batting practice and have an above ground selftriggering mechanism whereby the batter can control the toss-up of theball prior to swinging the bat at the ball. These prior art machines,because of their size, are not innocuous to the batter or to othersduring game play, with the possible consequence that the players maycollide with or stumble over the machine under actual game conditions orthe machine may create an obstruction in the field of play to a ball hitor thrown by a player.

Indeed, other problems with such machines are that they cannot be storedor moved easily, whilst other machines are fragile and do not withstandthe vigorous use they are subjected to. These machines often becomeinoperative because of the abuse they receive by their users and requirefrequent repairs or replacement, and have complicated mechanical systemswhich are expensive to manufacture, difficult to maintain in properworking order and are complex in operation.

As illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,858,921; 4,575,080; 4,564,195 and5,011,144, machines have been provided for batting practice which havesuspended balls on a column of air. While this type of machineeliminates the problem of having a physical tee to support the ballprior to the ball being hit, the notion of suspending a ball in oneposition does not provide the batter with means for improving his or herhand to eye coordination, reflexes and bat speed.

Numerous ball pitching mechanisms or automatic ball servers areillustrated in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,207,857; 4,027,646; 4,094,294;3,911,888 and 3,584,614. It is a characteristic of all of these ballthrowing machines that the balls are launched or thrown in asubstantially horizontal direction, either for stroking such as intennis, or for hitting such as in baseball or softball. They thereforerequire a selective environment to function, namely, one that has asubstantial distance between the throwing machine and the batter, suchthat these machines are not always adapted to home or indoor use ingeneral, or to outdoor use when windy.

Other known devices hold or swing the ball on a tether or arm arrangedgenerally at hitting height and thus also involve a high stand that islocated near the batter and may interfere with game play.

Still other known devices have involved complex external moving parts,such as spinning wheels and discs or means for manually cocking thedevice to load a spring before the operator releases a mechanism that inreturn tosses or fires a ball into the hitting zone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a ball tossing device forpresenting a moving ball to a batter that may be used at a novice,intermediate, advanced and professional level for both practice and gameplay, thereby increasing the enjoyment, interest and skill level of theplayers. The device may be used to enhance batting skill in bothpractice and game play where, for example, youth baseball players havenot matured to a level where pitching is considered appropriate, orprofessionals are returning from injury or other absence from the gameand need to resume correct batting technique. Accordingly, the balltossing device of the present invention is intended to provide asignificant advancement over known ball tossing devices.

It is another object of the present invention to overcome, or at leastsubstantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of theaforementioned prior art.

According to the invention, there is provided a ball toss up apparatuscomprising a generally flat body within which is located a pivotal armand a pneumatic ram means for causing the arm to pivot, a ball receivingmeans located above the arm to receive a ball upon the body, wherein aball so received can be tossed up to a hitting zone of a batter byimpact with the arm when pivoted by activation of the pneumatic rammeans.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put intopractical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a ball toss up apparatus accordingto a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view (from the underside) of the interior of theapparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view of a ball toss up activationarrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in a standby or ready-to-firemode,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but in a fire mode, FIG. 5 is a viewsimilar to FIGS. 3 and 4, but in a pressure-down mode,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, but in a pressure-up mode,and

FIG. 7 is a simplified side sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1showing activation of the pivotal arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the drawings, the apparatus 10 has a generally flat body 12in the shape of a home plate in baseball. There is a main ON/OFF buttonor switch on the underside of the body 12, but the body must be placedsubstantially horizontally to allow operation of the apparatus in the ONmode. This safety feature can be controlled by a mercury sensor or adigital level switch.

FIG. 1 shows five lights 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 which are sunk withindepressions formed on the top surface of the body 12 and which, whenilluminated, project light upwardly and partly outwardly. A strike block24 of a pivotal arm (shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 by numeral 26) is locatedbelow the top surface of the body and can move, when activated, upwardlythrough an opening 28 in that top surface. The opening 28 serves as areceptacle for a ball, such as a baseball 30, which can be propelledvertically upwardly when the strike block 24 impacts the ball.

When in the ON mode, the apparatus automatically sets the air pressurein an air tank 32 (or air storage cylinder) to a desired orpredetermined value, such as 7 Barr, which is the air pressure requiredto cause the strike block 24 to impact the ball with the force necessaryto propel it vertically upwardly to the desired height for optimalbatting use.

A hand held remote control device can then be used by a person out ofswinging range of the batter to activate a sequence of events leading tothe strike block 24 impacting the ball with the desired upward force.That sequence involves the lights being automatically illuminated in asequence beginning with light 14, then lights 16 and 18 simultaneously,and finally lights 20 and 22 simultaneously, before the ball isimpacted. This feature may be controlled by one of several buttons onthe remote control device. Other buttons on the remote control devicemay be used to adjust air pressure up and down in the air tank 32, or toawake the apparatus when it has assumed a SLEEP mode after, say, 20seconds of inactivity.

FIG. 2 shows the major internal components of the apparatus 10surrounded by a protective housing 34 of rubber or other suitablematerial. Electrical connections between components are shown in generalform by dashed lines.

There is a battery 36 for a main electronic circuit board 38 which hasan aerial for receiving signals from the remote control device. Thecircuit board 38 controls the electronic operations of the apparatus.

There is another battery 40 which supplies power to a controller unit 42of a brushless motor 44. The motor 44, which may spin at about 20,000rpm, is connected through a planetary gear assembly (of about a 4:1ratio) to a crank shaft 46 or cam arrangement for causing reciprocalmotion of a piston within a barrel of a compressor 48. The barrel has anair intake hole, and operation of the motor 44 generates compressed airwithin the barrel which escapes through an exit valve 50 and enters theair tank 32 via a one way valve 52.

As also shown in FIG. 3, air pressure within the air tank 32 iscontinuously monitored by a pressure sensor 54. A pressure releasesolenoid 56, which cooperates with the pressure sensor 54, is used toreduce air pressure within the air tank 32 when required. The pressuresensor 54 is involved in controlling the duration of operation of themotor 44, and the pressure release solenoid 56 controls the duration ofair release from the pressurised air tank 32 to atmosphere via apressure release aperture formed through a side nut 58 on the solenoid56. Monitoring and adjusting the air pressure within the air tank 32 areimportant for ensuring optimal performance and safe use of the apparatus10. If the apparatus is set (through its main circuit board) for safeuse up to a maximum of 10 Barr air pressure, the sensing of air pressurewithin the air tank above that limit will cause the pressure releasesolenoid to reduce that pressure to a desired safe value, and to a valuethat is within a range for optimal batting use.

There is a manual release valve 60 from the air tank 32 for emergencyreduction of dangerously high air pressure. The release valve 60 has ablow-off pin 62.

Pressurised air from the air tank 32 is in air flow communication via asingle pressurised air inlet tube 63 with a five way valve unit 64, theoperation of which is controlled by an electronic solenoid 66. The fiveway valve unit 64 also has a pair of air release valves 68 (withsilencers), a main pressurised air outlet tube 70 and a secondarypressurised air outlet tube 72. A directional outlet valve 74 within thevalve unit 64 can be operated to allow pressurised air flow from the airtank 32 in either of two outlet directions through the valve unit, withcorresponding air release through one of the valves 68 in an oppositedirection through the valve unit 64.

The main outlet tube 70 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 76 housinga ram 78 that can be forced to quickly move forward from a retractedposition to an extended position when subjected at its rearward end topressurised air from the air tank 32. The ram 78 has a striker piece 80at its forward end that is aligned with the pivotal arm 26, both ofwhich are fitted within a secure housing 82.

The striker piece 80 and the pivotal arm 26 are shown in greater detailin FIG. 7. The pivot axis of the pivotal arm 26 is remote of the pointat which the striker piece 80 strikes the pivotal arm, and so can causethe arm to pivot and the strike block 24 to impact the ball. In thisway, the pivotal arm 26 can act as a lever against the ball.

A directional exhaust valve unit 84 is in air flow communication betweenthe pneumatic cylinder 76 and the secondary pressurised air outlet tube72 from the five way valve unit 64. The directional exhaust valve unit84 has an air exhaust valve 86 (with silencer). A directional exhaustvalve 88 within the valve unit 84 can be operated to allow pressurisedair flow from the secondary pressurised air outlet tube 72 into thepneumatic cylinder 76 downwardly of the rearward end of the ram 78, andso can cause the ram 78 to remain in its retracted position within thecylinder 76. Alternatively, the directional exhaust valve 88 can beoperated to allow pressurised air from within the pneumatic cylinder 76during extension of the ram 78 to escape to atmosphere.

In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 3, theapparatus is in a standby or ready-to-fire mode. Pressurised air fromthe air tank 32 is supplied through a secondary pressurised air circuitinto the pneumatic cylinder 76 where it forces the ram 78 to remain inthe retracted position, because of the directions of the outlet andexhaust valves 74 and 88, respectively. The direction of outlet valve 74is controlled by the operation of the electronic solenoid 66.

In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 4, theapparatus is in a fire mode. The electronic solenoid 66 is activated byoperation of the remote control device to cause the outlet valve 74 toassume the direction shown, whereby pressurised air from the air tank 32flows through the main pressurised air outlet tube 70 and is forcedagainst the rearward end of the ram 78 in the pneumatic cylinder 76,causing the ram 78 to extend. Air from within the pneumatic cylinder 76is exhausted to atmosphere as the exhaust valve 88 assumes the directionshown, and closes off the secondary pressurised air circuit. Air fromwithin that circuit is also released through one of the air releasevalves 68.

In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 5, theapparatus is in a pressure-down mode. Air pressure is being releasedfrom the air tank 32 to atmosphere via the pressure release aperture ofthe solenoid 56, whilst the ram 78 remains pressurised in the retractedposition. The remote control device may include a button for thispurpose, and the pressure decrease may be by an increment of 0.5 Barrfor each pressing of the button. The pressure decrease may also be theresult of the air pressure monitored in the air tank 32 by the pressuresensor 54 being above a desired value and the pressure release solenoid56 being operated.

In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 6, theapparatus is in a pressure-up mode. The motor 44 is being powered tooperate the compressor 48 and generate pressurised air within the airtank 32. The remote control device may include another button for thispurpose, and the pressure increase may be by an increment of 0.5 Barrfor each pressing of the button.

FIG. 7 shows the striker piece 80 of the extending ram 78 striking thepivotal arm 26 and causing the arm to pivot and the strike block 24 toimpact the ball 30 through the opening 28. The ball is propelled ortossed vertically upwardly into a desired hitting zone of a batter.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, a ball toss upapparatus of the kind described above, when used for baseball andsoftball batting practice, has the advantage of resembling a home plate(especially if it is covered in rubber), and can be easily used fortossing a baseball or softball from ground level upwardly into abatter's strike zone. The apparatus is a compact, low profile, flush tothe ground unit that conceals its working components. In this way, theworking components remain safely out of the way for base running and thelow profile of the apparatus does not create an obstruction to a ballduring game play. Further the apparatus promotes the holding of the batin a normal manner by the batter's two hands whilst being in a naturalready stance.

After positioning the ball upon the body of the apparatus, the batter,coach, umpire or other designated person activates the ball tossingmechanism via a remote control device, propelling the ball verticallyupwardly into the strike zone.

In another preferred embodiment, means are provided on the ball strikingsurface of the pivotal arm to alter the point of contact with the balland thereby cause the ball to move at a selected upward angle. In thismanner the ball will be presented at different locations within thehitting zone.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in details of design and construction of theball toss up apparatus described above without departing from the scopeor ambit of the present invention.

1. A ball toss up apparatus comprising a generally flat body withinwhich is located a pivotal arm and a pneumatic ram means for causing thearm to pivot, a ball receiving means located above the arm to receive aball upon the body, wherein a ball so received can be tossed verticallyupwardly to a hitting zone of a batter by impact with the arm whenpivoted by activation of the pneumatic ram means.
 2. The ball toss upapparatus of claim 1 and further including an air tank for storage ofpressurized air that is used in the activation of the pneumatic rammeans.
 3. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 2 wherein air pressurewithin the air tank is continuously monitored by a pressure sensor. 4.The ball toss up apparatus of claim 3 wherein the pressure sensorcooperates with a pressure release solenoid to reduce air pressurewithin the air tank.
 5. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 4 whereinthe pressure sensor controls the duration of operation of a motor thatgenerates pressurized air in the air tank.
 6. The ball toss up apparatusof claim 5 wherein the pressure release solenoid controls the durationof pressurised air release from the air tank to atmosphere via apressure release aperture of the solenoid.
 7. The ball toss up apparatusof claim 6 wherein pressurised air from the air tank is in air flowcommunication via a single pressurised air inlet tube with a five wayvalve unit, the operation of which is controlled by an electronicsolenoid.
 8. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 7 wherein the five wayvalve unit has a pair of air release valves, a main pressurised airoutlet tube and a secondary pressurised air outlet tube.
 9. The balltoss up apparatus of claim 8 wherein the five way valve unit contains adirectional outlet valve that can be operated to allow pressurised airflow from the air tank in either of two outlet directions through thevalve unit, with corresponding air release through one of the pair ofair release valves in an opposite direction through the valve unit. 10.The ball toss up apparatus of claim 9 wherein the main pressurised airoutlet tube is connected to the pneumatic ram means, and the ram meanscan be forced forward from a retracted position to an extended positionwhen subjected at its rearward end to pressurised air from the air tank.